Positively, Purr-fectly Adoptable Cats

FELV+ PING PING WAITING FOR HER FUREVER HOME

POSITIVELY, PURR-FECTLY ADOPTABLE CATS

For 90 years, HSSC has been helping homeless animals not only survive but thrive! We believe that every pet deserves to be met with love and hope, wherever they are in life, whatever their unique needs may be. Not just the “perfectly healthy” ones, but the “perfectly imperfect” ones with untreatable conditions too!

Cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) fall into the latter category. Though both viruses can compromise a cat’s immune system, leaving them vulnerable to secondary infections, they are spread in different ways: FIV is primarily spread from cat to cat through fighting and bite wounds. FeLV, considered to be more contagious and aggressive, is most commonly transmitted from cat to cat through direct contact, mutual grooming and through sharing litter boxes or food and water bowls.

Both viruses affect only cats and cannot be spread to humans or other animals. While there are no known cures for either, the good news is that infected cats can live full, happy lives. “FeLV-positive cats typically have a shortened lifespan but FIV-positive cats can live a normal lifespan without ever becoming symptomatic,” explains Lisa Labrecque, DVM and HSSC’s Director of Veterinary Services. Thankfully, in the animal welfare community, FIV and FeLV are no longer considered reasons to euthanize otherwise healthy cats. While it is becoming less common for shelters to euthanize cats with FIV and FeLV, many overcrowded shelters still do when they exceed their capacity and exhaust all other options. Thanks to your support of our lifesaving mission, we’re able to take in cats who might otherwise face euthanasia due to their positive status.

“We frequently receive requests from our shelter partners, as well as our local pet owner community, needing assistance with FIV+ and FeLV+ cats and kittens,” HSSC’s Admissions & Animal Care Program Manager Anna Harrison explains. “Or sometimes rescues are just seeking a new pool of adopters for FIV- or FeLV-postive cats that haven’t been getting enough interest.”

Each day we see firsthand how much love these cats have to give and we work hard to ensure they get that love reciprocated in forever homes. “We commit considerable resources to help these positive cats be as healthy as they can be,” says Dr. Labrecque. For example, “we sometimes perform extensive dental surgeries - including full mouth extractions for FIV+ cats with severe dental disease and stomatitis (severe oral inflammation), conditions that are often very painful and could cause a decreased appetite.”

Fergus, Cuervo, Harrison Ford and Sterling were a group of FIV+ cats who came to us from another shelter in need of a little extra medical care before they were ready to be adopted. In addition to dental procedures, this group was treated for chronic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal cavity).

We are thrilled to report that three of these sweet fellows have found loving adopters! Sterling is still looking for a place to call home, so if you have room in your heart (and on your lap!) for this playful, affectionate cat, give us a call!

What might an FIV+ cat’s forever home look like? HSSC Feline Behavior Program Manager Saffron Williams says, “because FIV isn’t spread through contaminated surfaces or casual contact, there’s really no reason to be fearful that an FIV-positive cat is going to infect a non-FIV+ cat in the home.” She does emphasize the importance of proper introductions and maintaining peaceful co-existence. “Whether a cat is FIV+ or not, you of course don’t want bad fighting amongst your cats.” She goes on to say that bringing home an FIV+ cat “doesn’t require any special practices, other than keeping them indoors only and promptly taking them to the vet if they fall ill, which I recommend for any cat regardless of FIV status.”

FIV+ STERLING LOOKING FOR FIV-positive cats can live a normal lifespan without ever becoming symptomatic

Lisa Labrecque DVM and HSSC’s Director of Veterinary Services

Adopting cats with FeLV comes with a similar set of recommendations, with some notable considerations: “FeLV+ cats should live only with other FeLV+ cats due to the way the virus is spread,” Saffron advises. She also recommends a higher level of vigilance for medical issues. As with any cat she says, “it’s important to help them live life to the fullest! Give them tons of enrichment, playtime, snuggles – just appreciate every moment you have with these special guys.”

We currently have three FeLV+ cats available for adoption. Cece, Benjamin and Ping Ping were surrendered to us via our Community Veterinary Clinic after they were brought in for euthanasia. We knew they were worth saving. We are hopeful an “angel adopter” will come forward and bring one (or two or three!) of these playful special sweeties home. “While they are healthy, they will want to do everything a ‘normal’ cat would,” Saffron shares. “An FeLV+ cat with five years to live deserves to be just as well-loved as a non-FeLV+ cat with 20 years to live.” We could not agree more!

This year, our shelter medical program gratefully received support from Petco Love! Their generous grant – and your contributions – to our Angels Fund directly help homeless animals who need medical care on their path to a loving new home. To make your gift, please visit humanesocietysoco.org/ donate and select Angels Fund from the drop-down menu. Thank you for making our lifesaving work possible!